Hunkered down beneath the cover of a snow blasted bush, briskly breathed the ash-colored, long-eared rodent. The pressure of the late-night snow keeping it away from the shelter of its burrow as it peered into the moonlit aspen grove. It could smell its predator upwind but with the wind, snow, and its current hiding place it seemed to opt and try its luck staying hidden.

Being upwind was unideal for Cordelia but the increased ability to see with the wind hitting her back was a calculated risk she took. Though her prey would surely know of her presence it was unlikely to see her camouflaged coat and if it did choose to run it would be much easier to spot then a sitting duck. The conditions were not great but the desire for a meal was enough encouragement.